Trigger mechanism

ABSTRACT

A VALVE OPERATING TRIGGER MECHANISM THAT OPERATES A VALVE PLUNGER IN OPPOSITE DIRECTIONS FROM A CENTRAL RESTING POSITION WHEN THE VALVE PLUNGER IS ROTATED BETWEEN ALTERNATE ROTARY POSITIONS.

Feb. 27, 1973 s. M. MILLER 3,718,313

TRIGGER MECHANISM Filed NOV. 17, 1971 United States Patent 3,718,313 TRIGGER MECHANISM Stanley M. Miller, Hopewell, N.J., assignor to Ingersoll- Rand Company, New York, N.Y. Filed Nov. 17, 1971, Ser. No. 199,544 Int. Cl. Fl6k 31/44; B23b 45/04; B27c 3/08 US. Cl. 251-290 3 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A valve operating trigger mechanism that operates a valve plunger in opposite directions from a central resting position when the valve plunger is rotated between alternate rotary positions.

BACKGROUND OF INVENTION This invention relates to a valve-operating mechanism and more particularly to a trigger mechanism for operating a valve for such uses as controlling a fluid-operated tool.

Conventional valve mechanisms for operating valves that move in opposite directions from a central position normally also move in opposite directions from a central position. A trigger normally moves in a single direction from its resting position and therefore, is not normally used to control valves movable in opposite directions from a central position.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION The principal object of this invention is to provide a trigger-type valve operating mechanism for operating a valve movable in opposite directions from a central position.

Another object is to provide a novel and simple triggertype valve operating mechanism.

In general, the objects of this invention are attained in a device including a trigger swinging in one direction and carrying a lever pivoted to the trigger by a linkage that causes the lever to swing in an opposite direction to the trigger simultaneously with the movement of the trigger. Both of the end portions of the trigger and lever extend into a notch in a valve plunger that can rotate through a limited angle and contains slots that allow the trigger or lever to move the valve plunger in alternate directions in the alternate rotary positions of the valve plunger.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWING The invention is described in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is an elevational view with portions cut away and shown in section of a fluid-powered tool containing an embodiment of this invention;

FIG. 2 is a section taken on line 22 in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged fragment of FIG. 1 showing the trigger mechanism in an operating position; H

FIGS. 4 and 5 are sections taken on lines 44 and 55 in FIG. 3;

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary view similar to FIG. 3 showing the trigger mechanism in its alternate operating position; and

FIG. 7 is a section taken on line 7-7 in FIG. 6.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT A hydraulically-powered tool 1 shown in FIG. 1 includes a body 2 comprising a pistol-grip handle 3 and a nose 4. The body 2 contains a motor 5, shown in dotted lines, driving a spindle 6 extending from the nose 4. The handle 3 contains a pair of passages 7 and 8 for feeding and exhausting fluid from the motor 5. All of the foregoing structure is conventional.

A spool valve 10 is mounted in the upper portion of the handle 3 for controlling the fluid flowing in the passages 7 and 8 and for operating the motor 5 in opposite directions from a stopped position. The spool valve 10 shown in the drawing is a conventional four-way valve that is slidably and rotatably mounted in its bore |1 1 in the body 2. The valve 10 is movable in opposite directions from its central position shown in FIG. 1 wherein the motor 5 is stopped. No attempt is made to further explain the details of the spool valve 10 since its design is conventional and forms no part of the novel invention.

The rear end 12 of the spool valve 10 is keyed in a knob 13 having an operating finger 14 rotatably mounted in the body 2. The knob 13 is used for rotating the valve 10 in its bore 11. The front end 16 of the valve 10 extends forwardly from the tool body -2 and is engaged by a trigger mechanism 17 for moving the valve 10 forwardly or rearwardly from its normal central position shown in FIG. 1.

The trigger mechanism 17 includes a conventional trigger :18 pivoted on the front side of the handle 3 at pivot .19 and swingable rearwardly from its normal for ward resting position. A return spring 20 urges the trigger 18 forward against pin 26. The trigger 18 includes a tang or end portion 21 that extends into a notch 22 provided in the front end or operating plunger 16 for the valve 10. The notch 22 is shown in FIG. 2 and is right angular in cross section so that the plunger 16 can be rotated through a ninety degree angle without interference with the trigger end portion 21, when the trigger 18 is in its forward resting position shown in FIG. 1.

A lever 24 is pivoted on the trigger 18 at pivot 25 and is also pivoted on the body 2 by a pin 26. The pin 26 extends through a slotted hole 27 in the trigger 18 that allows the trigger 18 to swing without interference from the pin 26. By being pivoted on both the trigger 18 and the body 2 in the manner shown in the drawing, the lever 24 has an upper end portion 28 that swings simultaneously with the movement of the trigger 1 8 in an opposite direction to the movement of the end portion 21 of the trigger 18. The end portion 28 of the lever 24 also extends into the notch 22 and normally overlies the end portion 21, as shown in FIG. 1 with the trigger at rest.

In the position of the end portions 211 and 28 of FIG. 1, wherein they are laterally aligned, the plunger 16 is free to rotate between two angularly spaced positions. This is the position of the end portions 21 and 28 when the trigger 18 is in its non-operating position wherein the tool motor 5 is stopped.

The plunger 16 contains further slots 29 and 30 opening longitudinally otf of the notch 22 and extending respectively forward and rearward from the notch. The two slots 29 and 30 are angularly spaced about the axis of the plunger by an angle of ninety degrees so that they alternately receive the end portions 21 and 28 in the alternate angular positions of the plunger 16. When the plunger is in the angular position shown in FIGS. 1 to 5, the trigger end portion 21 engages the sides of the notch 22 and moves the plunger 16 rearwardly, with the depression of the trigger 18, while the lever end portion 28 is free to move in the slot 30, as shown in FIG. 5.

When the valve plunger 16 is rotated ninety degrees to the angular position shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, the end portion 28 of the lever 24 moves the plunger 16 forward, when the trigger 18 is depressed, while the end portion 21 of the trigger 18 is free to move in the slot 29 without interfering with the forward movement of the plunger 16.

I claim:

A trigger mechanism for operating a valve, comprising:

body containing a valve plunger slidably and rotatably mounted in said body and being longitudinally movable in alternate directions from a center position;

said valve plunger containing a notch intermediate its length;

trigger mounted on said body adjacent said plunger and having a first member extending into said notch, said trigger being movably mounted to move said first member in a given direction parallel to said plunger from a first position;

a lever pivoted on said trigger and said body and having a second member extending into said notch beside said first member, said lever being movable by said trigger and mounted on said trigger and body in a manner causing said second member to move simultaneously with said first member and in an opposite direction to said first member;

said plunger being rotatable through an angle between first and second angular positions; and

said plunger containing cut-away portions opening into said notch allowing said first member on said trigger to move said valve plunger in said given direction with said trigger in said first angular position of said plunger and said second member to move said plunger in the direction opposite to said given direction in said second angular position.

2. The trigger mechanism of claim 1 wherein:

the pivot of said lever on said body is located intermediate said second member and the pivot of said lever on said trigger.

3. A fluid-powered tool containing a fluid-operated 5 motor, comprising:

a body containing a valve plunger'slidably and rotatably mounted in said body and being longitudinally movable in alternate directions from a center position for controlling said motor;

said valve plunger containing a notch intermediate its length;

a trigger mounted on said body adjacent said plunger and having a first member extending into said notch, said trigger being movably mounted to move said first member in a given direction parallel to said plunger from a first position; i

a lever pivoted on said trigger and said body and having a second member extending into said notch beside said first member, said lever being movable by said trigger and mounted on said trigger and body in a manner causing said second member to move simultaneously with said first member and in an opposite direction to said first member;

said plunger being rotatable through an angle between first and second angular positions; and

said plunger containing cut-away portions opening into said notch allowing said first member on said trigger to move said valve plunger in said given direction with said trigger in said first angular position of said plunger and said second member to move said plunger in the direction opposite to said given direction in said second angular position.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,632,424 3/1953 Slomer 173-169 X 3,352,368 11/1967 Matfey 173-169 HENRY T. KLINKSIEK, Primary Examiner 

